The Sun. — London, England, 1864-04-02 00:00:00

THE WAS IN DENMARK. (From Me limes Special Correspondent with Me Danish Army.) DANISH HEADQUARTERS, SONDERBORG, March 27. If the modern art of war consists in inflicting the greatest possible injury upon an enemy with the least possible waste of time, blood, and money, then one may be permitted to doubt whether the Prussians have attained any very high degree of proficiency in 'the craft ; and if war is still to be, as it was among savages, merely the art of killing men, even then the Prussians may be looked upon as mere bunglers in its pursuit. It is now no less than a fortnight (from the 14th inst.) since they opened fire from their batteries on the cliffs of the Broager land. The cannonade has never entirely ceased throughout the whole of a day or night. No less than 500 or 600 shots and shells have been fired on an average daily; 7,500 of such missiles, on the very lowest computation, have been thrown upon the Dybbol bastions, yet it may be doubted whether as many as 75 Danish mea or officers have been disabled by the cannon since all the noise and earth quake began. The Prussians are thus purchasing their enemies' lives at the expense of about 500 shots per head, and I have already had occasion to state in a previous letter the fact that 1,000 balls and shells on Wednesday last had not produced a single scratch or bruise to reward the artilleryman for his trouble. The average of casualties in the Danish forts hardly exceeds three or four men hors de combat daily, As to any other results attained by the Prussians with all the thunder of their artillery, we may fairly set them down at nil. They kick up a prodigious deal of dust, doubtless; they have almost levelled with the ground one or two of the flimsily con structed blockhouses, and the traverses and parapets are considerably scarred and furrowed in some of the forts. But what of it ? We go out in the evening, and find a good deal of havoc and confu • sion in No. 2 or No. 6. The wooden gear of ono or two of the guns is being removed in splinters. What of it ? We revisit the same spot in the morning, and all the rubbish is cleared away, new gabions line the parapets, the battery is as good as new, the Danes rub their hands and shake the dust from their long overcoats, waiting for the daily shower of shot and shell, which they have learnt to dodge with consummate skill, and at which they can afford to laugh. At this present rate there is no reason why the siege of Dybbol should not last as many years as the siege of Troy. Symptoms of a far greater activity began, how ever, to develops themselves yesterday on the Ger man side. The fire between 11 and 1 was exceed ingly brisk ; the aim, no one can deny, is excellent, and if the cannonade were kept up for the whole of the 24 hours, or at least from sunrise to sunset, if it extended to the whole line, and if the attack were brought nearer to the bastions, we might probably have a different tale to tell. A new battery, of 16 pieces, was yesterday unmasked by the Prussians on a vantage ground between the village ot Dybbol and Ragebol, opposite to battery No. 8. Possibly we shall have some thunder to-day on that quarter. But it must not be forgotten that all the Danish bastions, with the exception of Nos. 2 and 6, are altogether intact. Those two, as 1 have said, have received no injury that is not repaired almost as soon as inflicted. Up to this time the Danes have been marvellously chary of their ammunition. They hardly ever answer more than one to three of the enemy's shots. Perhaps they wait till a greater proximity neutralises the advantage of the Prussian rifled artillery,—perhaps they disdain to waste powder and shot against mere inert matter, and will not bestir themselves till they can point their can non at the bre.sts of their assailants. Were the Prus sians as familiar with the sort of men they will have to meet is the breach as nearly two months' con tact with them has made me, they might well be excused if they shrank from coming to close quar ters with them. There are not in the world more robust frames or more resolute ;countenances than those of these gentle, inoffensive, and, on the whole, untrained and uncouth Danish soldiers. Such thick-set limbs, such round high chests, such square shoulders, such high cheek-hotr's, such massive nether jaws, s!:ch firm flesh, such fresh blood, I scarcely ever thought could be the common charac teristic of a whole host. I pass them in review daily as they go in and out from outposts to night quar ters, and from night qaarters to outposts. I view them in the mass and scan them one by one with all the love of a professed physioghomist,and I assure you I look in vain for one individual whom I couli feel disposed to describe as a weakling or a craven. The movements of these heavy bodies are generally stow and deliberate, the gait is clumsy and awk ward, the expression of the faces dull and sedate; but in the mass their array is wall-like, the mere weight of their tread appalling. On an open ground and breast to breast, I am really at a loss to say how many Prussians it may take to make them budge an inch. We have new arrivals daily. The Danish Go vernment strain every nerve to send in their reserves. 5,000 recruits are being drilled at Copenhagen. I have so often croaked and grumbled about the dull wretchedness of our existence at this place that I think it right to notice the great improvement that these later days have brought about in our posi tion. In the first place, the weather has been de lightful,—bright, dry, and by no means colder than we should have it in England at this time of the year. Then we have daily additions to our num bers, and it is clearly a case of " the more the mer rier." Besides seven or eight quill-drivers, repre- Betnia g the Press of most European nations, we have curious travellers in flocks, chiefly English officers, whose first instinct prompts them to seek intercourse and communion with us civilians. Some half-score of us are always clubbing together, and our after dinner talk enlivened by quips and cranks disguised under the motley garb of a polyglot jargon, racy and spicy with the peculiarities of national character helps us to while away the dreary hours which had hitherto hung so heavily upon us. Attic salt from the Boulevards mixes not unaptly with Cornhill chaff. Friendship springs up at the shortest notice, and the good humour and csrdiality inseparable from camp life readily extend to the wretched inns where we fare comme a lot guerre. The soldiers are used to our visits at all hours; they greet us with " God dag" or " God nat," or only whisper with great un concern among themselves that "Englanderne," or "Engelskeamadene" are coming. All that is odd, rash, impudent, or importunate is set down as pure English idiosyncrasy. No amount of impatience on our part has power to ruffle their unconquerable Northern temper. Tae officers are all invariably courteous and obliging, withhold no information, shun no conversation into which we may choose to enter. I never saw an epauleted Dane who war not every inch a gentleman, and, as I said before, never fell in with a cross, a rough, or crusty, or ill-be haved soldier. One drunken fellow I certainly chanced to meet on the very main street of Soader borg on Sunday. He was the first man I saw in that p li ght- But it was an exception, only proving the rule; and the manner in which his comrades pushed and shove ls him along, Helot like, with scorn and wrath in their countenances, showed that intoxica tion is as unpopular among them as among the Spartans of old. These Danes are certainly pleased to see us share their • toils and, to some extent, their dangers. They look at us, as we trudge along with them in the mudoeng a wondering gaze,as if plainly askieg how we like it, and if wo are at times caught inside their fo r t s when a shell comes rattling in the hold of us, laughing, air, they lay bidding us duck and crouch in the most approved fashion, end drag us into the hol es and corners, wh ere exper i ence h as taught them t he projectile may b e awa i ted w i t h a l mos t perfect impunity. At no hour of the day or m i g ht can one feel q uite sure of visi ting the bastions without coming in for a share of the stupid fire of the Prussians. The morning up to 10 or 11 o'clock, and the night from abo ut 4 or 5 p.m. till d aybreak, are the periods of comp native repose, and we t i me our excursions accordingly ; but still the Broager land batteries may be said never to be absolut e l y at rest at any hour of the day or night. An occasional shot comes through the air almost as regularly as the toll of a church clock bell striking the hour. Whenever this happens in the still night the effect is sublime. The loud deep boom of the heavy piece reproduced through the air by the echoes of the hilly land and craggy seacoast, the whizzing and fizzing, or, more properly, whining and fluttering of the shell as it rattles on its path, snake-like, meteor-like—all this makes up a treat for the eye and ear which the most consummate pyrotechnic art can scarcely rival, and well worth the trouble and the very little risk it may cost us to enjoy it. Such are the pains and pleasures, the joys and sorrows, the advantages and drawbacks of our ex istence. Weigh the pro and con, and then let me ask, "Who would not be a correspondent ?" MARCH 27, Evening. This being Easter-day, the Prussians thought they would treat us to a cannonade of unprecedented briskness. The fire opened after 12 o'clock at noon, but for more than half an hour it was so heavy that we could count no less than six, and even as many as ten, discharges in a minute. The batteries on the Broagerland are more numerous, or rather they have been run into one another till nearly the whole coast presents but one continuous line of fire. By two o'clock the fire slackened, and soon ceased alto gether. Really it would seem as if the Prussians had a certain number, say 500 or 600 shots and shells, apportioned to them for daily consumption, and it mattered little whether they burnt all their powder in a few minutes, or whether they spirted it out by driblets, so as to keep up the noise for the whole day. One may feel tempted to ask for the twentieth time, " Is this fighting in earnest A few of our party ventured out this afternoon, as soon as the Prussian fire gave signs of being about to cease. They visited Battery No. 2, into which about 327 shots and shells had fallen between 12 and 3 o'clock. The parapet had been knocked about a good deal, and the mere ruin of a blockhouse had nearly disappeared. But the bastion was still, on the main, intact, and the cannon answered the enemy's fire to the last. The casualties were only two men wounded. Yesterday the wounded were three. From Battery No. 8 one could very distinctly see , the Prussian battery constructed between the vii. lages of Dybbol and Nagebol, at about 2,000 yards from the Danish line. Only six embrasures are visible. The guns are not yet mounted. A Frenchman, who came in from Jutland yester day, tell us that the siege of Fredericia was raised because the Hungarian and Venetian troops under Gablenz were in open mutiny. That disaffection should be ripe among part of the Austrian soldiery would be natural enough. TFIE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 2, 1864. DANISH ACCOUNT OF THE PRUSSIAN ATTACK UPON DUPPEL. COPENHAGEN, March 29. The following official report has been issued by the War-office : " Despatches received from headquarters, dated 10 a.m, yesterday morning, announce that at three o'clock the Prussians attempted to surprise the posi tion at Duppel, penetrating suddenly between works No. 4 and No. 8. After a vehement engage ment, lasting without intermission until 7.30 a,m., our garrison in the works and entrenchments drove back the enemy to his former position. Fighting was general all along the line. On the left wing the ironclad battery, Rolf Krake, took part in the en gagement, her fire upon the ravines at Venningbund preventing the advance of the enemy, while she was herself engaged by the Broager batteries without effect or loss. Twenty-six Prussians were brought in prisoners to Sonderberg, two of the number being officers, and all belonging to the 18th Regiment, which was foremost in the attack. Our loss cannot yet be distinctly stated, but, notwithstanding the violent musketry fire, is not great. " Advices received from North Schleswig lead to the conclusion that the Prussian troops in Jutland have withdrawn to the southward. The monument in Skamlingsbank is reported to have been pulled down and demolished. Proclamation is stated to have been made in the churches the day before Good Friday that Prussian currency is henceforth to be the circulating mediam of the country, and that in future none but German money will be re ceived in public offices." Dagbladet has published the following telegram, dated Sonderborg, March 28, 11.25 a.m. : " At 3.30 this morning the enemy made a deter mined attack our works. Vehement fighting fol• lowed along the whole line. The enemy wry repulsed several times. Roil Krake fired upon the enemy's right wing with good effect from Venningbund, and was herself bombarded from Broager, Our troops, among whom were the North Schleswig men, fought bravely. Our loss is not large ; the enemy's very considerable-24 privates and two officers were brought in prisoners, one of the officers wounded. The hand-to-hand encounter lasted four hours ; but the fire of the works continued longer." The Ministry of Marine reports as follows— " At 3 this morning the enemy's batteries began to fire upon the position at Duppel. Rolfe Krake tripped art chor and steamed in towards Venning band. At dawn she ran into the creek, and was met by a heavy fire from the Broager batteries. After remaining two hours in the creek shelling the enemy's troops, the battery withdrew upon the enemy's retreat. Rolf Krake has suffered no material damage, and is reported by the Comman der-in-Chief to have made excellent practice." The following additional details have just been published by the War-office : " Our loss yesterday was as follows :—Officers killed—First-Lieutenant Secher and Second-Lieu tenant Dichmeiss, of the 2d Regiment ; First-Lieu tenant Petersen, of the 10th, and Second-Lieutenant Benzon, of the 6th. Officers wounded—First-Lieu tenant Hammeley and Second-Lieuenant Gold schedt, of the 10th Regiment, badly ; Cept. Ross, of the 2d Regimen" slightly, Col. Herbon received a contusion from a spent ball, and will not be fit for service for some time. In non-commissioned efficers and privates our loss was 30 killed and 108 wounded. Four of the enemy's officers (three wounded) and 27 non-commissioned efficers and privates were captured. During a truce agreed upon from eleven to one o'clock the enemy collected and carried away many dead and wounded ; his loss must have been considerable. " The attack was made with about 6,000 men, behind whom very considerable reserves were held in readiness, but not brought under fire. The in tention of the attacking party is believed to have been to trace a parallel as close to the line of works as possible. When the engagement had terminated the fire of the batteries at Broager was renewed with vigour." Much interest is felt in Copenhagen in the evi • dent change which has taken place in the plans of the allied armies before Fredericia since the 21st. Military operations have almost completely ceased since the attack made on that day. Referring to the subject the Schleswig ,Holsteinische Zcitung of the 23d says : " Field-Marshal von Gablenz was appointed to an independent command in Jutland some days ago, and in that capacity furnished with extended mili tary powers. On the occasion of the attack upon Fredericia on the 21st, a collision is reported to have occurred between the Field-Marshal and General Von der Mulbe, the commander of the Pressian Gaard division, which compelled the Austrian com mander to make use of his authority." The latest advices received by the Berlingske Tidente assert that Jutland has been evacuated by the Prussians, and that only a small force of Aus trians is to remain in the southern part of the pro vince. ADvEnTisEMENT.I- -Avoid medicines: they always aggra,.. vate chronic complaints, but Du Barry's Delicious Health Restoring Revalenta Arabica Food, which saves fifty times its oust in other remedies, invariably cures them, restoring perfect digestion. strong nerves, sound lungs, healthy liver, pure blood, refreshing sleep, functional regularity, and energy to the most disordered or enfeebled. We extract a few out of 60,000 Cures :—Cure No. 58,216 of the Marchioness de Brehm, Paris, of a liver complaint, wasting away for seven years, debility, with a nervous palpitation all over, bad digestion, constant sleeplessness, the most intolerable nervous agitation, and dreadfully low spirited.—Cure No. 1,771. Lord Stuart de Decies, Lord Lieut. of Waterford, of many years' dyspepsia.—No. 49,832. "Fifty years' indescribable a.;ony from dyspepsia, nervousness, asthma, cough, constipation, flatulen_y, spasms, sickness, and vomiting.—Maria. Jolly." —Cure No. 16,270. Mr. James Roberts, of Frimley, Surrey, of thirty years' diseased lungs, spitting of blood, liver derange- ment, and partial deafness. —Cure No. 47,121. Miss Elizabeth Jacobs, of extreme nervousness, indigestion, gatherings, low spirits, and nervous fancies. - Cure No. 54,516. The Rev. Jae . T. Campbell, Fakenham, Norfolk, " of indigestion and torpi dity of the liver, which had restate all medical treatment." In tins, 1 lb., 2s. Od. ; 21b., 4s. 6d ; 51b., lls.; lab., 225. ; 41b 408.—Barry Du Barry and Co., No. 77, Repeat-street, London; also Fortnum and Mason ; and all Grocers and Chemists in every town pf the United Kingdom. Mr, Roebuck on the Science of Politics. On Thursday evening Mr. Roebuck, M.P., delivered an address to the members of the Hull Church Institute, at the Public schools, Parrat-street,Hull, his subject being," Why should the science of politics form a portion of the education of every Englishman ?" The room was densely crowded. The chair was taken by Dr. Bell, president of the institute, who briefly introduced the hon. gentleman, After a few efatory remarks, Mr, ROEBUCK said, that if there was one thing more than another which it really imported the people to know, that thing was politics. Some people said, "We have enough of politics in the newspapers and from wandering politicians —for heaven's sake don't trouble us with that," That was not wise. He was about to discourse on the subject of poli tics in a sense very different from that in which other people used it. 'What, then, did he mean by politics ? If, we, by putting on a wishing cap, could get what we desired there would be no use of government, But that was not the fact. A large portion of the objects of human desire was the re sult of labour. Labour was pain which every man desired to sheen, and if a man could avoid all the labour of gaining his subsistence and throw it upon others; what would hap pen ? The strong man would oppress the weak, and make the weak to work for him. But the weak combined against the strong ; they united and formed what was really • ts . o y erne ment, to keep down the strong man who wish, io coerce and live upon the weak man. But the very men who combined for the purpose of preventing the coercion of the strong man had exactly the same interest as the strong man to rob the public, and if left to themselves would rob the pub lic. In order to prevent i them from doing this certain means were required, and the ashiening of those means, making what is called the constitution, formed the science of govern ment This science he included in the word politics, as well as the science of legislation and the administration of the affairs of the nation at home and abroad. Coming now to ano ther word in the questionwhich was the subject of his address —the word Englishmen—he had to make another explana tion. When a naturalist used the word man he included woman, and when he (Mr. Roebuck) used the word Eng lishman he meant also to include:Englishwoman. He meant to insist upon this, that as far as his proposition went women should receive an equal education to men. (Applause.) It they only considered the great influence of a mother upon the education of her children, and how that child's mind and character were formed by the mother who bore him and educated him, every one with a grain of sense would say that the education of that mother's mind was a matter of great importance to society at large. (Applause.) The small wit that was employed against learning in women was very silly and very mischievous. He wished that women might be so educated as to form good, worthy, honest, and honourable citiicens. He was not going to introduce any thing like - party polies; he was going to be a prophet, and to mention some things which he believed would take place, alttough he did not say that he desired them. During the last 30 years a great change had taken place in this coun- Itry. 'When he began to turn his attention to politics the government of England was a very narrow aristocracy, and the feelings of one class of people towards the others were anything but cordial. After the great war with Napoleon, certain writers arose who spread their views among the people, and used language which led eventually to the Re form Bill of 1832, but which language, if carried to its ulti mate consequences, would have gone a great deal further. It reads the working classes and the great body of the people believe that the political power which was extended by the Reform Bill ought to be conceded to them; that feeling had not died away, and he would predict that the political power they desired would be extended to the masses very quickly, though perhaps not in his lifetime. That being so, he asked himself if his labouring fellow-country men were worthy of and prepared for the exercise of that vast power which Government possessed. (Hear.) How could they prepare for this contingency? Why, by educat ing the people, by fitting them for the exercise of that great franchise which would be theirs as surely as there was a sun in heaven. The time would come when the great body of the people would govern the country. He might be asked, did he expect every working man would be a statesman and a legislator, He replied, No. The American Indian, if he felt ill, went to his medicine man, who mutrered certain incantations over him, and if he got well it was thought to be the consequence of those incantations. In this country, if he (Mr. Roebuck) went to a doctor, although he himself was not learned in physics, he thought he was able to tell whether or not the doctor was fit to cure him. What he asked, then, was, that the working men should have the power of understanding the intellectual and moral character of the person whom they chose, and for that purpose he wished them to employ a rational power. This would pre vent their listening to a charlat in who promised them every • thing if they would only put him into power. From the days of early Grecian history, we learned how men had thus been put into power, promising that the people should see what would come of it, and the foolish people did see what came of it. (Laughter.) It was with pain, but he thought with truth, that he saw such a wonderful ignorance in al parts of England that he would hesitate very much at the idea of putting into the hands of the people the power to regulate their destiny. (Hear.) Only a few days ago a woman and man were tried for causing the death of a poor old deaf and dumb man because they believed he was guilty of witchcraft. Not many years ago a crack-brain impostor who called himself Courtenay, persuaded the ignoratet peasantry of Kent living within 50 miles of London, that he was invulnerable. He induced them to rise in insurrec tion against the Government. and they would not believe that he was vulnerable until ho got shot. Some cottagers near his (Mr. Roebuck's) house in the country believed that a string of toads hung around the neck would cure persons ill of consumption. Would 4t be wise, safe, or sane to put the destinies of England into the hands of people like those? No man in England had a greater desire than he to see his country exalted ; his whole life hod been devoted to the great end of raising men. He had no hatred to those above h m, whom he had seen employing their means kindly and faithfully towards their fellow-men, but he had a great desire to lift his countrymen up—and how could this be done ? There was only one way to make them fit for that power which the rushing tide that was going on faster than they could go would inevitably confer upon them. During the first 25 years of his political life there was a great desire on the part of liberal men to con fer on the working classes the franchise they desired. Events had happened quite lately on the other side of the Atlantic in which the Liberals in England had seen things that frightened them. It was no use hiding the fact that the doings in America had a mischievous effect upon the Liberal cause in England, (Hear, hear.) He did not want to see the same things happening here. He had been and still wee a thorough-going Liberal, but that terrible example in the United States had frightened him, and he was not liable to be frightened. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) There fore he said to the men and women before him—put your shoulder to the wheel and do what you can to educate your fellow-men, 'What sort of an educatioon could be given to them ? The first thing to be done was to prepare an educa tional literature for the purpose of educating children on the topics on which he had been speaking. The Irish na tional school books were very admirable for their purpose. They hardly attained what he desired in this respect. To make a working man understand what he ought to do with the power entrusted to him was totally distinct from any thing he learned in those books. The first thing he shoum be taught was what legislation could do, supposing the great body of the people were to receive the franchise; and they would be surprised to hear how easily that might oc cur. The very small change proposed in the Reform Bill brought in by Lord Derby's Government would have in creased the number of his constituency in Sheffield from 7,000 to 18,000 ; therefore it must not be supposed that a great change in the goy erning power of this country was as far off as many imagined. The number in Sheffield added to the 7000 would be the vast majority, and by them would be de termined the fate of the election. (Applause.) The unedu • cated whom he had met believed the Government had the power of determining the rate of wages, and one of the first things that would be propounded by an ignorant constitu ency, such as he had described, would be that there should be a minimum of wages. The consequence of that would be the utter destruction of the power and greatness of Eng land. Manufactures would be driven from the country, and under the notion of relieving themselves from the misery of low wages, which depended on circumstances totally beyond the power of Government, the people would ruin the country by insisting that their representatives should establish a minimum of wages. (applause.) It had been attempted more than once to keep down wages by ace of Parliament, and the attempt had failed; .wages could neither be raised nor kept down by law, and that ought to form a portion of the science of politica imparted to the working man. (Applause.) Again, wealth was very un equally distributed in England. If power were in the hands of the uneducated poor, they would say, " Cannot we, a patriotic Government, make everybody happy by making everybody rich ? Shan't there be an equal distribution of property ?" This was attempted in a neighbouring country some years ago, and though it failed, the attempt brought riot, confusion, and terror over all the land. The same would be the consequence here if the people were endowed with power without having knowledge to guide r hem in the exer cise of it. (Hear, hear.) The first thing, then, to teach the people was the limits which surrounded legislation; what, in short, the power of Government could do. Then came the pertinent question—what Government ought to do. Government could be so regulated that every man might think, say, and do what he pleased, so long as he did not injure his neighbour. When that was attained the end for which Government was established was attained. (Ap• plause.) If by act of Parliament a man's creed was forced upon him the rule he had pointed out was broken. He did not mean to say that the instructed did not endeavour to lead the uninstructed. The power of mind over mind he honoured and venerated. What he opposed was the power over will; what he desired was that thought should be entirely free from coercion, while at the same time it might be guided by thought. They might get up as many educational institutions as they could, and teach what they liked, but they must teach, not force. This had not been done until quite lately, and it was one of the most marked characteristics of this country that every man might believe what he liked. (Applause.) Then came the pith of the question, might he say what he liked? Being a lawyer he had heard all his life about the law of libel ; he wished that law to be entirely done away with, except so far as applied to a man When he endeavoured to injure his neighbour. Let a man say what he liked ; if he chose to say that any one of the theories of Euclid was false, did any believe that Euclid coule be aided by gnus and trumpets, swords and powder and shot 1' Not a bit of it. Let a man, then, say what he liked, so long as he did not vilify his neighbour. When they had a government really and sincerely desiring the good of the people the people would be allowed to think, say, and do what they liked. When the working man had been brought to understand that, and all the various ele ments that went to the comprehension of it, they would be prepared for the exercise of that franchise for which they were certainly destined. Again, there might be a good government and good laws, but they might be unfit for the people. If the best form of government that could be de vised was given to a body of ignorant savages, they would be as unable to employ it as he would be to use an Arm strong gun. In this country an education was going on among a large body of the people—a political education — which was the marvel of nations abroad, and it was this that made England what she was. We had the coroner's jury, the parish vestry, the board of guardians, and the municipal corporations, all managing their several affairs and consisting of assemblies of the people. The power of this country did not simply depend upon her wealth, nor upon tte thews and bravery of her citizens. If the people "were so ignorant that they did not know the business of the Government, England would rot be what she was, they would have that abominable nuisance called a paternal government, and the people would be slaves. This was what had happened in the countries of Europe, where, how ever, the multitudes were wakened up; and it was to Eng and that they pointed for an example. To England they looked because we were a self-governed people. (Applause.) He believed that this country exhibited such a spectacle as the world never saw. The upper classes exercised the powers possessed by them most kindly, generously, and virtuously ; and the lower classes regarded them with kind ness and consideration. We were now a really united people, and cot.fident against the world at large. (Applause) There was, however, a danger looming in the distance, which could only be avoided by our doing something for the education of the masses. A great deal was being done, hut there must be more done ; there must be no no tion that the people were not to learn this, that, or the other. It was commonly said that knowledge was power; but knowledge might be used for selfish purposes just as much as any other power; if an ignorant man was put beside a wise man, the former would certainly be the slave of the latter. He had said a great deal which he hoped would induce his audience to think. They must not run away with the notion that the danger was put off ; that the people of England were so terrified with what was occur ring in various parts cf the world that they would be thoroughly content with their present prospects. Depend upon it it would not be so, He felt confident that we should shortly see great demands for a change. They should bear in mind what was taking place around them. Had they not seen within a few months a great revolution in the largest manufacture in England, the cotton manufacture? Thousands of persons have been thrown out of employment and great misery had been the consequence, but not one person had accused the Government of Oast. (Applause.) How different was this from the state of things in 1817, when the whole country was patrolled by persons breaking machinery. He hoped that what ho had said might turn to good profit, that it would enlarge their minds, soften their asperities; and that the passion that they might have felt on political subjects would entirely disappear. Then they would be, what he hoped the great people of England would be, roused, every man and woman, to a fine concep tion of the great destiny awaiting them, and surrounding nations would say of them that they were a people to be. reverenced, honoured, and envied. (Applause.) A vote of thanks to Mr. Roebuck and the chairman con cluded the proceedings,—Nwichester Exa2nin6r. Position of Parties in the House of Commons. Easter comes early this year--but not earlier than it was wanted. A fortnight's repose comes most acceptably to a Government which has been, as Mr. Bright phrased it, worried night after night with no ordinary severity ; gives them time to collect their thoughts, to count their resources, and to consider how they are to encounter the serious as saults foreshadowed by all this preliminary skirmishing. In January they were thought to be strong . , not, indeed. in numbers, but in prestige and popularity. True, Lord Russell had made many serious blunders, and got into con siderable disgrace, He had been pursuing his usual policy with more than usual eclat : he had been, as his wont is, bragging and backing out ; he had been patient with the strong and peremptory with the weak; and as the strong had been more brutal and outrageous, and the weak more obstinate, than on previous occasions, the character of his policy had come into clearer light, and its humiliating cone traste stood forth in more painful relief than heretofore. We had bombarded and burnt Kagosima ; we had interposed with vehement protests on behalf of Poland, had been well snubbed for our pains,and had left Poland to her fate ; we had taken strong measure's against the Confederates, and endured strong measures at the hands of the Federals. Our it fluence in Europe had been so employed that we were on terms of coolness with France, and of reciprocal suspicion with Rus sia. Germany, led by iho father-in-law of the Princess Royal, was rushing on Denmark and her King, the father of our beloved Princess of 'Wales ; and matters had been so managed that we had quarrelled with Germany, and yet left Denmark unassisted, No part of our foreign relations was in a satisfactory or creditable state. Nevertheless, little hope was entertained that any Parliamentary punishment would befal the author of all the mischief. He had been wisely removed from the dangers and storms of the House of Commons to the quiet and security of another and a hap pier place ; and though Lord Derby might scout ge him with stinging and cutting sarcasms, the House of Lords has little direct power of inflicting the one penalty which he would feel acutely--removal from office. His colleagues in the House of Commons might trust to Lord Palmerston to de vise some means of parrying attacks directed against " an absent man ;" and a vote of want of confidence in Lord Palmerston himself seemed at that time impossible. Sir George Grey, again, had done his utmost to damage himself and his colleagues by one of those acts of unri valled perversity for which he is famous. But nothing short of a case of actual corruption would induce the House of Commons to interfere with the exercise of the royal pre rogative ; and Sir George Grey's worst blunders only incur unpopularity, not censure. For the rest,the Prime Minister was in favour with all parties, except the Rochdale school; and the displeasure of Rochdale enhanced the satisfaction of England. Lord Palmerston has never been able to un derstand that personal popularity will not make up for po litical shortcomings ; and that his own prestige, though it may enable him to cover the scrapes of a Peel or a Cowper, will not suffice to divert attention from the glaring misde meanours of those who stand almost on his own level as leaders in the Cabinet and in Parliament. Relying on him self, he met Parliament cheerfully ; and relying ou him, and on his inexhaustible resources, his party forgot the changes that had taken place since 1860, and the gradual transfer not merely of numerical, but of effective strength, which the last three years have witnessed. The superiority of debating power is now on the side of the Opposition, It may be granted that Mr. Gladstone is unsurpassed as an orator in the House of Commons; and that Lord Palmerston is as happy in retort or reply as any living man. The Attorney-General is also a roost eloquent and forcible speaker, and a great addition to the strength of the Ministry. But Mr. Disreeli and Sir Hugh Cairns are fully a match for these champions of Liberalism ; and when we come to the second rank of debaters, the Ministry have no one to oppose to Mr. Fitzgerald, Sir S. Northcote, Lord Stanley, and Lord R. Cecil. Again, there is a class of speakers in the house who carry great weight, not by dint of eloquence, but by knowledge, wisdom, and force of moral character. Sir George Cornewall Lewis was the most distinguished of these men; and his loss has left the defence of the Ministry entirely in the hands of those whose authority is merely intellectual. There is no one now to answer Conservatives like Mr. Walpole and Mr. Henley ; no man on the Liberal side whose voice carries, as theirs do, much of the authority of an umpire, anxious amid the war of faction only to protect the interests of the State. Under these circumstances, it is not sur prising that every d e b a te that has t aken p lace this session has been camaging to the Govern ment ; has shaken their strength, and impaired public bel ief in their stability, In January there w a s a ge neral opinio n that Lord Palmerston had a lease fur life of Downinare s treet. Now there is ae general an impression that his Ministry is hardly likely to see the session out. The very fi r st night betrayed their weakness, It is usual for the Queen's speech to mean as little as possible : as if it were thought unconstitutional for the Sovereign to speak seri ous ly an d ear nestly to the nation, But this year the abse nce o f meaning was m ade so conspicuous and so g la ring, that it was impossible for it to pass unchal lenged. Th e t r u n cated passage relatin g to Denmark— an exact im age o f Lord Russe ll ' s p olicy, in which the strongest expressions of England's interest in, and duty towards, the Danish Government were made to stop sud denly short at the point at which a declaration of war seemed the only possible conclusion —invited criticism ; and criticism was not disarmed when it appeared that Lord Palmerston thought the matter of so little consequence that not a single paper had been prepared to lay before Par liament. The tone of the Prime Minister on that occasion absolutely astonished the House of Commons. "If Parlia ment wanted th© papers, of course ho was ready to produce them." But why had they not been produced beforehand? Was it possible that the Ministry could have supposed that they would not be called for? That so skilful a tactician as Lord Palmerston should have put such a slight upon the House—should have seemed to be bent on avoiding er post poning the discussion of his foreign policy, and should have shown himself anxious to withhold as long as possible papers which must be produced ere long,—appeared very strange. How he must have reason to d read discussion, if, to snatch isnocburrireefa by arenspoittec,auhseingwtohue pa pers to be prepared before theld risk so much obloquy as he meeting of Parliament ! The non-production of the corre spondence damaged him much more than its subsequent publication, and the Blue-books contain nothing half so dis graceful as the delay in printing them. Mr. Layard, who has great talent for giving offence, completed thejprovoca tion by declaring that it would take fully three weeks to produce the papers—an announcement which called forth such a storm of indignation that the Government took warn ing, and the correspondence came forth piecemeal, affording several opportunities for sharp questioning, but no field for a pitched battle. Mr. Disraeli took occasion, from time to time, to demand explanation and express alarm ; and Lord Palmerston did not appear to advantage in his replies. He showed great irritation—irritation which carried him so far that on one occasion he charged Mr. Disraeli with being peculiarly happy in attacking an absent man. The Minis• terialists cheered, of course; but the general feeling of gentle men on both sides must be that the charge was in singularly bad taste. Not one of Mr. Disraeli's foes but has reason to I know that the right hon. gentleman has never quailed from a hand •to-hand encounter with more formidable adversaries than Lord Russell. Few reputations on the Treasury bench but bear the scars of wounds received in such encoun ters. To charge Mr. Disraeli with Parliamentary cowardice is like charging Mr. Gladstone with ignorance and vul garity, Mr. Bright with mincing delicacy, or Lord Palmer ston himself with treachery to colleagues and subordinates. And nc answer could possibly be given to Mr. Fitzgerald's retort, that if the Opposition in the Lower House may not discuss the conduct of Ministers who happen to sit in the Upper, the Commons might as well abdicate their functions at once. Lord Palmerston was worsted ; and the want of temper which he displayed did his cause as much harm as I Mr. Disraeli's censure.—Church and State Review, Naval and Military Intelli&ence THE NAVY. Her Majesty's Coastguard tender Argus, Commander 9 eorge T. S. Winthrop, yesterday called at Woolwich dockyard, on her way to Messrs. Penn's works, for repair; and additions to her boilers, which are to be fitted with cupolas to prevent the escape of steam. Commodore Ryder and Capt. Johnson, commanding the Pembroke Coastguard service ship at Harwich, having mustered the steam reserve and Coastguard ships at Chatham yesterday, landed at Woolwich dockyard, and, accompanied by Commodore Dunlop, C. 8., and Mr. Turner, inspected the experimental iron-cased ships Enterprise and Pallas, is course of fitment _ _ _ . _ and construction, and after wards proceeded to London. Ono hundred and seven petty officers, seamen, and lad from the flagship Fisgard yesterday left Woolwich to join the new flagship of Admiral Warren, the Bombay, at Chatham, destined for the south• east coast of America. The War Department transport Petrel sailed from Chatham yesterday, with 60 tons of solid and hollow Armstrong and other shot for the 110-pounder, 68 pounder, 40-pounder, and other guns on board the Irresistible, 67, 400-horse power, fitting for the Coastguard service at the Nore. In accord ance with instructions received at Chatham, the Irresistible will be stationed at Southampton, and not at Hull, as was previously ordered. The Cork Company's steamship Cormorant, 800 tons (Apt. Croft, which arrived yesterday morning at Plymouth, reports having been in collision, off Queenstown, with a boat belonging to her Majesty's screw steam Coastguard ship Hawke, 6, Captain Edward Codd, about ten o'clock on Thursday morning. It is stated that the Cormorant was steaming down harbour, and that it was the intention of those in the boat to come alongside. The boat, however, got under the cutwater, and the oars were not got out in sufficient time to clear her. The engines had been stopped, but the Cormrant had sufficient way on her to turn the boat over. Six of the crew were rescued by ropes thrown from the steamer's bows. Others were carried under her bottom, and it is feared that some were drowned. The Cormorant obtained no reliable information before she left. On Thursday the boat belonging to the steamtug Scotia; commanded by Mr. Sleep, was proceeding under canvass from that vessel in Hamoaze for the entrance basin in Devonport dockyard, and, when crossing the bows of the Ajax, 60, her sail jibbed, she turned keel up, and Mr. Sleep, two men, and two bays were thrown overboard. All were saved but one of the boys, whose body was found yes terday in the boat entangled in the sheet of the sail. Official intelligence has been received at the Admiralty of the deaths of the following officers since December 20 : Admiral of the Fleet Sir W. H. Gage, G.C.B.—Admi rale W. B. Mends, M. H. Dixon, J. Thompson, G. Henderson, J. N. Tayler, C. 8., A. Adderley, H. Pat ton, A. Montgomerie, R. Saumarez, and G. 0, Lempriere —Rear-Admirals N. Cory and W. Allen—Capts. J. B. E. Frere, C. Hall, E. Oaks, H. Tense, J. Tournsed, J. B. Howell, A. Kennedy, J. C. Wickham, W. H. Hall, P. B. Stewart, P. W. Hamilton, E. Lake, W. Smith, and J. Ne ville—Commanders L. M. Croke, W. Gilchrist, J. Smith, J. Le Feuvre, N. Brice, R. Thorold, C. Pearson, A. Vyner, J. 0. Nops, H. M. Freestun, J. Tilley, J. Mein, W. B. Weekes, C. B. Stockaale, W. H. Woodin, W. Palmer, G. Ley, J. Vibart, G. B. Waterhouse, R. Thorley, D. Wing field, W. Thomas, W. F. M. Tollemache, F. Collens, T. Leen, and P. Dall—Lieuts. Sir A. Campbell, J. H Evans, R. H. Meads, J. Saunderson, T. Hallowes, J. R. Drake, E. Tolcher, C. BlaAmore, J. Thompson, J. Groves, V. H. Jones, W. Grettan, J. Pettett, W.H. Shearman—Sub- Lieut. F. S. Dodsworth—Masters A. J. Armstrong and W. L. Southey—Second Masters T. M. Kinnell and T. Martin— Inspector-Gen of Hospitals G. King—Surgs. J. Gunn, G. Bellamy, M.D., J. Graham, E. Walker, W. Craig, P. Cunningham, J. West, and H. Fulton; Assist.-Surg. R. P. Hiffarman ; Paymasters—J. B. Hay, W. W. P. Foord, G. Anderson, A. Lockhart, T. Rowley, W. Paine, and E. Owen; Chief Engineers C. K. Renwick and B Greetham, Royal Marines—Second Lieuts. J. Campbell, S. Lloyd, anti H. P. B. Ross. The names of the following officers have been removed from the official list of officers of the Royal Navy :—Lieuts. G. F. S. Jeanes, and P. J. Hankin, Sub-Lieut. R. D. Campbell, Master E. Spence Chal lain ;. Rev. A. G. Berry, ILA. ; Assist..Surgs. A. H. Woodifield, J. M. Bateson, and J. A. Yule, Assist.-Paymaster E. T. Boys. Royal Marines —Capt. W. C issar and First Lieut. W. Younghusband. The following appointments have been made at the Ad miralty :—Capt. T. H. Mason to the Blenheim, vice Lord F. H. Kerr, whose period of service has expired ; Robert Wingfield, of the Dauntless, promoted to first class assist.- engineer. THE ARMY. The annual Easter holidays granted to the garrison troops terminated on Thursday at Woolwich. The general com- manding, Sir Richard Dacres, yesterday commenced his muster of the Royal Artillery Brigades for a course of season drills. The 13th Brigade, in command of Col. Buchanan, was paraded in front of the barracks, marched past, and went through the usual course of drills, to be con- tinued through the season. The Legislature of Nova Scotia has long acted with great illiberality towards the English troops stationed in the co lony. It has imposed duties on the wines consumed at the officers' mess, which are not taxed in this country or in any of the other colonies. Some months ago, on a change of Government, the duty was taken off, the anomaly having been noticed by the press, but it has been reimposed. The House of Assembly has also put a tax on the te 4, coffee, and sugar supplied to the troops by contract through the Com- missariat since the contract was taken. This is all the mote unjustifiable as there is no colony deriving greater advan tages from the large expenditure of the army and navy, that of the former alone at Halifax being little, if at all, short of £200,000. The Nile, Indiaman (one of Messrs. Green's Blackwall fleet), Commander Owens, R.N.R., arrived at Spithead yesterday from Calcutta, with military invalids and time- expired men from her Majesty's regiments serving in India, in the following strength :-16th Brigade Royal Artillery, Capt. Price and three men; 2d Dragoon Guards, nine men and one woman —let battalion 20th Foot, seven men-23d Foot, Lieut. Lysons, Mrs. Lysons and child, 14 men, one woman, and nine children-38th Foot, Lieut. Caldecott and 41 men-52d Foot, 18 men and one woman-90th Foot, Assist.-Surg. Crane-91st Foot, eight men, one woman and two children-97th, 18 men, one woman and two children. They will be disembarked this morning, and the invalids will be forwarded to the Royal Victoria Hospital at Netley, the time-expired men being sent on to the stations of their regimental depots. Four soldiers diet during the voyage home. The ship's private passenger list comprises Mrs. Goad and three children, Mr. and Miss Jarler, Mrs. Phil lips and child, Mr. and Mrs. Brown, Mrs. and Miss Richardson, Mrs. Owens, Mrs. Hills and three children, Mr. Cockburn and three children, Messrs. Lee, Jones, and Reed, Masters C. and V. Campbell, Messrs. Halpen and Parker. Tho Nile embarked the troops at Calcutta on the 12th Dec., 1863, and sailed thence on the 16th; arrived at St. Helena on the 9th of February and left again the same day for England. She made the Western islands 17 days before her arrival at Spithead, and since then has had to contend with heavy gales from N. by W. to N.E. Yester day afternoon the officers accompanying the troops on board and the private passengers assembled in the main saloon of the ship nd drew up an address, which they presented to Captain Owens. A piece of plate awaits Captain and Mrs. Owens' acceptance in London, as a further mark of esteem from their passengers. Some specimens of experimental guns, intended to be fired shortly at Shoeburyness, are approaching completion in the Royal gun factories at Woolwich. One of the guns is rifled on Commander Scott's principle, and others are on those of Mr. Jeffery, Bashley Britten, and on a French system recommended by the War Department for trial Mr. Parsons, who has introduced a system of strengthening the old cast-iron guns by means of internal tubes, has also submitted some working plans of breech-loading guns, which, it is stated, will effectually remedy the defect of the Armstrong system, caused by the failure of the vent. pieces, which arises from their inadequate weight and strength. One of the guns has been fired at Woolwich butt, and bore the test satisfactorily. The deaths of the following general and other officers have been reported at the War-office since the let of March :—Gen. Irving, Royal Irish Artillery—Lieut.-Gen. T. R. Swinburue—Major-Gans. E. Harvey, H. Poole, Royal Artillery, and W. J. King, Royal Staff Corps— Lieut.-Col. W. Raban, 22d Regiment—Majors E. J. Hol worthy, 14th Regiment, and C. H. L. Tinling—Capts. T. G. Danger, sth West India Regiment, L. Bonavita, Royal Malta Fencible Artillery, N. F. Dromgoole, 35th Regiment, J. H. Kinneir, 2d Provisional Bat, alion,and G, C. A.Girse wold, Brunswick Cavalry—Lieuts. A. Tibeando, 7th Royal Fusileers, G. Edge, 11th Regiment, R. J. Cochrane, 34th Regiment (accidentally shot), H. h. innahan, 99th Regi ment, IL Lyster, 7th Dragoons,L M‘Kay,42d Highlanders, W. IL Hollis, 57th Regiment, and J. W. Little—Ensigns A. uucrow, 40th Regiment, C. H. Panlet, 60th Rifles, H. E. 'Wilkinson, 105th Madras Light Infantry, and F. B. Sweeay, 62d Regiment--Paymasters J, Court, 73d Regi- meat, and R. Davis, 74th Highlanders— Quartermaster T. H. Nl‘Bean, 2d Dragoons—lnspector-General of Hospitals Sir J. R. Grant, M.D., C. 8., K.H.—Surg. H. L. Stuart, 38th Regiment—and Assist-Burg. J. Macartney. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. TIMES.—When the events of war succeed each other so rapidly the lapse of three months imparts to any particular occurrence the remoteness and fainter colour of history. A slight exertion of the memory is therefore required to recall the details of a troublesome episode of the American conflict—the seizure of the Chesapeake steamer—which involved the authorities of the North American colonies, the Foreign-office, the Colonial Department, our con suls, our Minister at Washington, and Mr. Seward in a long correspondence. The documents have just been published, and as they record the termination of the affair in a manner satisfactory to all parties, we can direct attention to the facts of the case not only for the interest they possess as a narrative, but for the warning they convey. Had not the two Governments met the difficulty with moderation and forbearance on both sides, it might easily have been inflamed into a dangerous quarrel. With the first part of the transaction we had nothing whatever to do, and our share in the matter eventually was quite involuntary. The facts are detailed at great length in the despatches, but may be told much more briefly. The Chesapeake was a first class steamer plying regularly between New York and Portland, carrying passengers and cargo between the two ports. In fact she was a coasting steamer, and not con • sidered liable to any of the misadventures of war. In the June of last year, however, her commander had volunteered a service which seems to have made the Chesapeake a ship marked by the Confederates for future attention. She chased and captured a Southern privateer which had attempted to seize a revenue cutter, named the Caleb C !shing, in the harbour of Portland. On the sth of December she left New York on one of her usual voy ages ; but before her departure 16 passengers had embarked who did not appear to have any acquaintance with each other, though they had really combined in a plot to seize the ship when at sea, and carry her i eto some Southern port. In the middle of the night of the 7th of December the conspirators carried out their plan effectively. They overpowered the watch, encountering only a slight resistance, but in the confusion they killed the second engineer and wounded the chief mate. They did not molest the passengers, except by warning them, on their peril, to keep quiet. They put the captain in irons, and t oo k full possession of the ship. At the time of the seizure the vessel was not within any British juris diction, and if the conspirators could have steered southwards or put out to the open sea we should have had nothing to do with the transaction. But their real difficulties began the moment they had succeeded. The midnight struggle and capture might be made an incident in a nautical romance, in which fair winds and consummate seamanship are always at the service of desperadoes. But steamers and their machinery do not lend them selves so readily to adventure. The Chesapeake had no sails to depend on, and was too short of coats for a long voyage. This is a modern and pro saic necessity, unknown to the Red Rovers and Water Witches of fictio n . Even the übiquitous Alabama is always in trouble about fuel, and if she is ever caught it will probably be with empty coal bunkers. The captors of the Chesapeake were ob liged to run for a British harbour, and arrived at, Partridge Island, New Brunswick, where they sent the captain and crew on shore in a pilot boat. The seizure created a fever of excitement in New York, and a small fleet of steamers was manned and fitted for pursuit as rapidly as possible. On the 17th of December a Federal ship of war discovered the Chesapeake in Sembro Harbour, Nova Scotia. She had, therefore, been in possession of the captors ten days. When she was descried they were actually taking in a supply of coal. But flight was impossi ole, the conspirators saw the game up, and all but two or three of the sixteen put off in a boat, and escaped as the Federal squadron approached. It was with this recapture of the Chesapeake that the English Government became involved in the mat ter. The captain of the Federal steamer made the se izure in one British port, but, it appears, only w i t h the intention of taking his prize into another. He m i g h t th edoubtedly have taken the recovered ve ssel to Portia/At or New York itself, and had tie done at the capture 'c ould have given rise to a very serious difficulty. But he proceeded to Halifax, and expressed his readiness to give up the Ctiesa peake to the British authori t:s. s at that port, in t ip might be order that the question of ow nerse de cided by the Vice-Admiralty Court. At the same time a demand was made for the trial of the men implicated in the attack on the crew of ttle; Chesa peake and the murder of the second engineer, that, if guilty, they might be given up to the Government of the United States, under the Treaty of Extradi tion, as pirates. While the adjudication on the point of ownership was proceeding fir. Seward assured Lord Lyons that though he was not aware the Federal naval officers had in any way violated the jurisdic tion of Great Britain by the recapture of the Chesa peake in a British port, yet, should it prove so on fuller information, he could not justify such an in fraction of sovereign rights, and was ready to express the " profound regret" of the Federal Go vernment, and make satisfactory amends for any excess of authority on the part of its officer. He did not think any legal process was necessary to discover the ownership of the Chesapeake, which had never been made a lawful prize, the seizure having been an act of piracy. He suggested that the vessel might have be restored to the owners by the Executive of the province. It was thought necessary, however, to proceed legally in the mat ter, and the depositions of the captain and crew of the Chesapeake were taken in the Vice-Admiralty Court of Halifax. The Judge decided that both ship and cargo should be restored to the owners. While the case was pending, during several ad journments, the citizens of Halifax were excited against the Court and Judge to a degree of violence for which we can perceive no adequate cause. The decision given was equitable, and we presume ace cording to law and evidence. The anger of the people, however , carried them even to the extreme of rescuing one of the prisoners, who was given up to the local an. t h ori ties on the plea that he was a British subject. When landed from the American s teamer the Halifax poi. ce were on the wharf ready to apprehend him on the ma ;istrates' warrant. The crowd interposed, prevented i. ,ee arrest, put the man into a boat, and he finally escat:ed- This was represented in New York as a flagrant ;.nstance of "sympathy with the rebels." But it is p;obab'e some local feuds or party feeling had quite as in:c. l ' to do with the resistance to the local police. This was the closing incident of the story, all the details of which show how often the friendly relations of two countries may be endangered by the acts of unscrupulous partisans, lawless adventurers, or too zealous officers. Mr. Seward made the apology be offered at an early stage of the transaction for the violation of British territory, and acknowledged the "just and friendly proceedings'' of the Governor of Nova Scotia, as well as the impartial spiri by which the Vice Admiralty Court had been guided "in a case attended with some embarrassment and local excitement." The apology, Lord Ly one assures Mr. Se ward, " has been accepted by her Majesty's Government in the same spirit in which it has been offered," and he adds that he is " truly glad the matter has been settled in a manner honourable to both parties, and calculated to improve the friendly relations" between the two Powers. On the Chesa peake difficulty nothing more and nothing better can be said. DAILY NEWS.—Parliament, at its meeting on Monday, will have before it a history of the nego tiations carried on by Earl Russell with Denmark and Germany down to the date of the letters in viting the Powers to meet in the proposed Confe rence. The fourth instalment of the " Correspon dence with Denmark end Germany" was issued yesterday. The former portion, it may be remem bered, brought the history of the Dino-German dispute down to the summons addressed by Mar shal Wrangel to General Meza, requiring the evacuation of Schleswig by his army. That now issued gives accoun is of the interviews, manifestoes, despatches, and mutual explanations which were made necessary by toe passage of the Eider, and subsequently of the Schlei, the abandonment of the Danne wirke, the defence of Duppel, and the ad vance into Jutland, the various proposals of a Con ference, and the difficulties which attended the arrangement of the conditions of its meeting. On all these he it ads the public has been so fully in formed that is surprising how little that is new is to be found in these letters. What first strikes the reader is the attitude of painful constraint in which those Powers which might have been expected to exercise a moderating influence on the course of events appear in these letter's. Ail of them make apologies which imply a consciousness that they are not doing what, under ordinary circumstances, might be fairly expected of them, Austria, pushed hard to justify her aggression on Denmark, regrets to find that her Majesty's Government is indisposed to attach sufficient importance to " the very grave difficulties in which Austria and Prussia are placed with Germany in a state of frenzy." Russia, asked by England if she will not co-operate to the extent of giving material assistance to Denmark , explains that " the position of Russia at the pre sent conjuncture" renders it difficult for her to take a leading part in dealing with this question; and, lastly, England, directly ap pealed to by Denmark for aid, replies, " th a t every step which her Majesty's Government may think it right to take in the further pro gress of this unhappy contest can only be taken after full consideration and communication with France and Russia." Two only of the Five Great Powers—France and Prussia—form an exception to this remark. M. de Bismark is seen cheerily p!ung ing his country further and further into that cons flict of " fire and steel" by which alone, as he dee Oared three years ago, Prussia could work out her exalted destiny. We see him here from first to last the inventor and instigator of every new measure in aggravation of the strife, rejecting all palliatives and compromises, and some way or other always convincing Count Rechberg that he is right. France, again, plays a part that is very well de fined. The Emperor, as was to be expected, will take no active part in arrangements for preservin; the map of Europe. It cannot be said that he is absolutely indifferent to treaties, for they may be useful some day to show that other Powers by breaking them have placed themselves in the wrong. The Emperor contents himself with a decorous in activity, satisfied to see the Governments of Austria and Prussia carrying into effect principles which will lay both those State open to him and etch allies as he may easily find. The character of the alli ance between Austria and Prussia makes it difficult for foreign Gove nments to accept with much con fidence the undertakings which those Powers are ready to give. Austria appears in these letters as the partner of credit who is put forward from time time to time to give assurances which Prussia at the convenient moment unhesitatingly annuls. It was so with the advance into Jutland. It was so with the proposed armistice, which was to take place on the retirement of the Danes to Alsen. The Austrian Government had led our Ministers to be lieve that it desired an armistice on those terms, and when Earl Russell had written to various Foreign Courts, asking co-operation to bring about an ar rangement of that kind, Prussia declined to accede to it, and Count Rechberg, its author, said that M. de Bismarck's objections were unanswerable. Now that it is supposed that a Conference is about to as semble, we naturally look in this Correspondence for evidence of the intentions with which the two German Courts would enter upon the deliberatiens of such an assembly. And here again we find Austria making what she considers the fairest promises, declaring in a despatch of Count Rechburg's that the integrity of the Danish monarchy is in her eyes not only " consecrated by the Treaty of London, but necessary to the balacoe of power." On the other hand, we have M. de Bismarck abstaining from all engagements of that character; explaining to Europe in despatches that although Prussia entered Schleswig with the intention of respecting the in tegrity of Denmark, her recognition of that prin• ciple might be forfeited if the Danes presumed to defend their own territory against an invasion. In a ministerial circular issued six weeks ago to the Prussian official organs in the provinces, it was said that England after doing its utmost, even having recourse to threats, to prevent Austria and Prussia from going forward, but in vain, had asked from Prussia a declaration to the effect that she held fast to the London Protocol, and therefore maintained the principle of the indivisibility of the Danish. monarchy. " Bat," it was said, "it is self-evident that when one's antagonist has by his obstinacy once driven one into war, treaties are no long er binding, and consequently that nothing can be promised for the future, but that everything then depends upon the issue of the contest. This is the sense in which our Government has expressed itself towards England." While this was the language of the official organ, M. de Bismarck himself received a deputation, and spoke favourably of the Duke of Oeienburg's pretensions to Holstein. The public will understand now why the Danes made the re cognition of the negotiations of 1851-52 a condition of their acceptance of a Conference. These de spatches sufficiently show that no preparation whatever has been made for the Conference. And if the Emperor of the French has only half the sagacity for which he gets credit, he will be able easily to transform it into the Congress which he proposed last November, with the additional grati fication of seeing it convened by the very statesman who defeated it before. COUNTRY MARKETS. - -- -,1 , - LIV ERP 0 L-FRIDAY. There was a limited attendance of the town and country trade to-day, and wheat met a limited consumptive de mand at a further reduction of ld to 2d per centat from last week's prices. Flour was neglected. although offe, ed on easier terms. Egyptian beans steady, and in better re quest. Oats and oatmeal in little demand, and prices as before. There was little doing in Indian corn, and quota tions unaltered. WAKEFIELD-FRIDAY. Wheat was quiet, at barely last week's quotations. Barley met a steady sale, and maintained former prices. Beans and other articles unaltered. Averages for the week : Wheat 2,911 qrs., at 4ls 51(1 Rve _ - —s Od Barley 562 Beans Peas Oats 96 33s 'lid 32s 11}d —s Od 18s 50 STAMFORD-FRIDAY. White wheat, 40s to 42s ; red, 36s to' 40s per 36 stone. Barley, malting, 33s to 35s ; grinding, 29s to 32s per qr. Oats, 18s to 22s per 24 stone. Beans, old, 40s to —s per qr. ; new, 31s to 365. LINCOLN. -FRIDAY. White wheat new, 41s to 46s I Barley, grinding.. 27s to 29 s fled do. 34s to 41s j Oats, old, .. Old white —s to s I Beans Red do —s to —s I .. 40s to 42s Barley, malting 33s to 3,5 s 1 Beans, new 34s to 363 CORK-THURSDAY. The following were the quotations this morning :—Red wheat, 8s Od to 8s 10d; white, 8s Od to 9s 8d , barley, 53 6d to 8s Od. ; oats, 4s 10d to 6s 2d ; black do., 4s 4d to 55 M. BRISTOL SUGAR-FRIDAY. There has been less business doing . in the raw sugar market this week, and sales were confined to a few parcels of Demerara, at 45s to 48s per cwt. Refined goods are un saleable just now except at lower rates, which manufacturers. refuse to take. Rum is rather easier. COAL MARKET. ?noes of Coal per Ton at the eloas of the market. s. d. Hastings Hartley l6 6 Wylam 17 0 Buddle'sWest Hartley 16 6 Eiolywell l'anfield Moor Butes ..14 6 Cowpen Hartley 16 6 Davison's West Hart ley 16 6 Walls End. $. d. Walls End. Haswell l9 61 Ships at ruarkel East Hartlepool lB 9 Hartlepool 18 9 South Hatton .....19 6 K elloe South flartlepool 17 9 Braddyll's Hatton 18 3 Framwellgate .,.17 3 Tunstail Stewart's 1 9 0 It, 46 ; sold. 31. Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. i.ustralia and Mauritius, via Southampton ..April 18. via Marseilles .. April 12. irazil and Cape Verds, by British packet. . April 5. Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and Si. Helena. April --'• 4,:hina, Penang, and Singapore, via Southamptob.April 3 via Marseilles ...April 12 . _ _ _ Falkland Islands _ Gibraltar, via Southampton . April 3. India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton.. April 3 via Marseilles.... April 3 India (Bombay), via Southampton April 1.2 via Marseilles April 5. Portugal.... April 5. Nialta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton April 3 via Marseilles April 5. Newfoundland April 13. Oporto and Vigo ... U. S. and British N. America, by Brit. packet.... April 7. by U.S. packet.... —.by Canadian packet. April --. W.C. of Africa, Madeira, and Teneriffe April 10. Bahamas, via New York April 7 Mexico.. . kII parts of West Indies, including Chili, Peru, I April 13 California. and British Columbia Births. EELMORE.—On the 31st ult., at Castle Cools, Ireland, the Countess of Belmore, of a daughter. LOCKHART.—On the 26th ult., at Ayr, the wife of Captain L. W. M. Lockhart, 92d Highlanders, of a daughter. . PENRHYN.—On the 31st ult., at East Sheen, Surrey, the wite of Major Leycester Penrhyn, of a son. WALE.—On the Ist inst., at Strawberry-vale, Tedding' ton, the wife of George H. H. Weale, Esq., o f a (laugh' ter. Marriages. ARNOLD—JENxiNs.—On the 31st ult.. at Saint Stephen% Westbourne-park, John Arnold, Esq , of 71, Sensing ton-gardins-square, to Amelia, the only child of the late Liaut. Henry Jenkins, R.N. DENNE—MENZIES—On the 31st ult., at Hampstead, Thoo. Dame, Esq., of Camberwell-grove, to Mary, daughter of the late William Menzies, Esq., of Koripan, Java. Deaths. ----- PERGUSSON.—On the Isr. inst., at 16, George-street, gain ever-square, William Ranken Fergusson, Esq., rates; Bombay C. S., second son of ProfessorFergu sson, F.R aged 27. MARSHALL.—On the 31st ult., at Peckham-rye, George • Marshall, Esq., aged 64. POMFRETT.—On the Ist inst.. at 16, Northumberla dst., Strand, William John Pomfrett, aged 36. PINK.—On the 31st ult ,at Ealing, sudden l y , John Pink, Esq., aged 59. WARD —On the 30th ult., at Wolverhampton, Thomas 11 . Ward, Esq., aged 82. STATRAM.—On the 29th inst., at Stone House, Forest. row, Sussex, Samuel Statham, Esq., aged 59. SMITH.—On the 29th ult., at Saffron Walden, Thom Smith. Etq., aged 91. London: Prinud and rrbliehed by WILLIAM. ANDRE, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Ikm SUN Office NO. % 12. Strand, inn the Precinct of the savoy, :A the 99111347 ItiiidleaeN..--54tUrdah Arra 21-..160L